How do you find the oxidation number of one element?

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How do you find the oxidation number of one element?

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Answer 1 · 2016-08-26T07:14:01

The oxidation number of an element is generally $0$ $0$ .

Explanation:

Oxidation state is formally the charge on an atom when it donates or accepts electrons. While this is a formal exercise it does have utility in the balancing of redox equations. Because elements have demonstrably not transferred electrons, they are assigned a $0$ $0$ oxidation state; they are $zerovalent$ $"zerovalent"$ .

The burning of coal and fossil fuels is certainly an example of a redox equation:

$Coal is oxidized from 0 to +IV$ $"Coal is oxidized from 0 to +IV"$

$C \to C^{+ I V} + 4 e^{-}$ $CrarrC^(+IV) + 4e^-$

$Oxygen is reduced from 0 to -II$ $"Oxygen is reduced from 0 to -II"$

$O_{2} + 4 e^{-} \to 2 O^{2 -}$ $O_2 + 4e^(-)rarr 2O^(2-)$

For both these redox equations mass and charge are balanced, as they must be. (Are they?)

Add them together to eliminate the electrons:

$C (s) + O_{2} (g) \to C O_{2} (g)$ $C(s) + O_2(g) rarr CO_2(g)$

Both elemental reactants are zerovalent BEFORE electron transfer occurs.

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How do you find the oxidation number of one element?

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